栖息地质量对两种网蛱蝶集合种群结构和分布的影响

在河北省赤城县研究了栖息地质量对大网蛱蝶Melitaea phoebe和金堇蛱蝶Euphydryas aurinia两种网蛱蝶集合种群结构和分布的影响。这两种网蛱蝶在约10 km_²的区域内共存,成虫期的蜜源植物几乎相同,大网蛱蝶的发生峰期比金堇蛱蝶晚约一个月,两者只有不到一周左右的时间重叠。大网蛱蝶和金堇蛱蝶幼虫的寄主植物分别是: 祁州漏芦（菊科）和华北蓝盆花（川续断科）。蜜源植物的丰度与两种网蛱蝶的局域种群大小呈正相关;祁州漏芦的密度对大网蛱蝶的局域种群大小影响很大,金堇蛱蝶的局域种群大小则与其寄主植物华北蓝盆花的高度正相关;斑块内平均植被高度与两种网蛱蝶的局域种群大小均呈正相关,植物多样性、植物均匀性和植被盖度均与金堇蛱蝶的局域种群大小负相关,与大网蛱蝶的关系不大。同时分析了其他因子如斑块的坡向、坡度等的影响。主要结论是：1）幼虫寄主植物的不同和成蝶飞行峰期的分离允许两种网蛱蝶在这样一个小的斑块区域内共存;2）蜜源是重要的限制因子,并且受气候随机性的影响很大,蜜源的波动可以很好地解释网蛱蝶集合种群在年度间的动态变化;3）大网蛱蝶和金堇蛱蝶的飞行、食物搜寻能力的不同以及各自寄主植物的生物学特性、空间分布的不同决定了它们具有不同的集合种群结构： 金堇蛱蝶是经典的集合种群,大网蛱蝶是源-汇集合种群;4）斑块质量和昆虫行为共同决定了两种网蛱蝶的集合种群结构和分布。     

华北山区干草地生境中耕作和放牧对网蛱蝶保育的作用

研究对象是中国河北省赤城县闫家坪村的两种共存网蛱蝶—大网蛱蝶和金堇蛱蝶, 这两种网蛱蝶以不同的集合种群类型续存. 在此区域内, 适宜网蛱蝶生存的栖息地斑块是干草地. 在这里主要的人为干扰是放牧和耕作. 研究结果表明: 斑块内是否嵌有耕地和在斑块内放牧对金堇蛱蝶的斑块占据性以及种群密度有交互作用, 金堇蛱蝶在内部嵌有耕地并且适度放牧的斑块上的占据性和种群密度最高. 斑块内是否嵌有耕地对两种网蛱蝶的斑块占据性都有显著影响, 两种网蛱蝶都喜欢占据内部嵌有耕地的斑块. 斑块内是否嵌有耕地对金堇蛱蝶的种群密度有显著影响, 而对大网蛱蝶种群密度没有影响. 但是两种网蛱蝶在田垄间的幼虫组的比例有逐年增加的趋势. 两种网蛱蝶都是在适度放牧的斑块内有最高的占据性和种群密度. 结果说明在该类型山区的小规模的耕种和适度放牧对蝴蝶的保育是有利的. 斑块内是否嵌有耕地和在斑块内放牧对两种网蛱蝶有不同的影响. 因此, 在对有人为活动的山区进行保育规划时, 要综合考虑其利弊以及不同物种的异同.     

两种共存网蛱蝶幼期的生命表研究

在河北省赤城县大海坨国家自然保护区内,从2002年到2004年应用生命表方法研究了在同一网络斑块中共存的金堇蛱蝶Euphydryas aurinia和大网蛱蝶Melitaea phoebe两个世代的幼期各阶段的死亡情况,目的是了解影响种群动态的重要因子,为它们的长期保育提供信息。结果表明,金堇蛱蝶幼期总累积死亡率都较小,两个世代分别为59%和72%; 而大网蛱蝶总累积死亡率较高,两个世代分别为89%和80%。影响大网蛱蝶死亡的最重要因子是放牧,两个世代与放牧相关的k值分别为0.559和0.167;尤其是在越冬后大网蛱蝶幼虫组聚集取食阶段,导致两个世代分别有50%和25%的幼虫组死亡。寄生蜂在大网蛱蝶小种群下也分别使两个世代4%和9%的5～6龄期幼虫以及13%和24%的蛹死亡。金堇蛱蝶死亡主要发生在越冬期,与越冬死亡相关的k值两个世代分别为0.073和0.199, 而寄主植物的质量影响越冬期幼虫组死亡; 寄生蜂则对金堇蛱蝶种群的调控作用极小,只有在2003～2004世代有4.0% 的越冬后幼虫被寄生和7%的蛹被寄生。影响两种蛱蝶种群动态的关键因子不同,采取的保护措施应有所不同。在春季减少源斑块内的放牧,对于以源-汇集合种群形式存在的大网蛱蝶种群恢复和增长十分必要; 而对以经典集合种群形式存在的金堇蛱蝶, 通过适当植被管理提高繁殖区域内寄主植物质量,可以提高越冬期幼虫组存活率,有利于其长期持续生存。     

无线电遥测技术研究澳门犬蝠的捕食区面积

2015年5~12月,利用无线电跟踪方法对澳门路环3只犬蝠(Cynopterus sphinx;2♂♂,1♀)的捕食区进行研究。结果发现,3只犬蝠的月平均捕食区面积的大小差异显著(F_(3,23)=77.854,P0.000 1),2雄性的捕食区面积分别为(1.6±0.4)hm2(n=8)和(17.9±6.6)hm~2(n=8),雌性为(31.7±4.7)hm2(n=7);3只犬蝠的捕食区离日栖息地的平均距离差异亦显著(F3,23=16.034,P0.001),2雄性分别为(53.6±12.4)m和(446.2±68.8)m(二者均n=8),雌性为(606.9±94.7)m(n=7);2雄性的捕食区存在部分重叠,但是雌性与2雄性的捕食区均无重叠。此外,不同月份犬蝠的捕食区面积呈现出一定的差异,冬季(11月和12月)捕食区面积相对较大,且雌性的10月份捕食区面积比相邻月份有所减少。本研究说明,犬蝠的捕食区通常靠近其日栖息地,捕食区面积中等,其面积大小具有较为明显的季节变化。     

庆网蛱蝶Melitaea cinxia L.

<正>庆网蛱蝶Melitaea cinxia L.,英文俗名:the Glanville Fritillary butterfly,为古北界广布种,从西欧到南西伯利亚草原均有分布,在北非摩洛哥也有分布。庆网蛱蝶在中国仅分布在新疆天山和阿尔泰山的少数几个地区。在天山,庆网蛱蝶成虫的飞行期是从每年5月底到7月初,雌蝶通常交配一次,雄蝶可多次交配。交配后,雌蝶在宿主植物穗花婆婆纳(Veronica spicata)的叶片背面产下卵块,卵块大小从几十粒到两     

甘南则岔林区蓝马鸡配对期行为观察

2007年和2008年采用瞬时扫描取样法在甘肃省甘南州则岔林区对蓝马鸡配对期行为做了观察.在配对期行为中雄性蓝马鸡的取食行为(34.39%±1.83%)和警戒行为(29.62%±1.93%)比例较高,其次为移动、休息、站立、其他行为、驱逐.而雌性取食行为比例最高(53.23%±2.19%),其次为移动、警戒、休息、其他行为、站立.在共有行为中,雄性警戒行为时间显著高于雌性(P＜0.01),而取食(P＜0.05)和其他行为(P＜0.01)时间显著低于雌性.在配对期雌、雄个体始终保持较近距离(2.59 m±0.07 m,n=535),雌性觅食效率显著高于雄性.     

叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾生殖行为的干扰胁迫

为探索叉角厉蝽Eocanthecona furcellate (Wolff)对斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)生殖行为的干扰胁迫作用,实验设置了3种处理来观察这种干扰效应,处理Ⅰ：2对斜纹夜蛾成虫,2头叉角厉蝽雌成虫;处理Ⅱ：2对斜纹夜蛾成虫,2头叉角厉蝽雌成虫,2头处于四龄的斜纹夜蛾幼虫;处理Ⅲ：两对斜纹夜蛾成虫,作为对照。将斜纹夜蛾成虫放置在上述3种条件下,饲养至斜纹夜蛾停止产卵为止,对斜纹夜蛾产卵行为跟踪观察。结果表明,当斜纹夜蛾与叉角厉蝽同处狭小的空间时,叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾正常的生殖活动有一定的干扰作用,斜纹夜蛾采取逃离或躲避的措施来摆脱叉角厉蝽的接触。受叉角厉蝽的干扰胁迫,斜纹夜蛾产卵量减少,处理Ⅰ与处理Ⅱ的平均产卵量均明显少于对照。叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾卵块数量、结构、大小也构成一定的影响。在处理Ⅰ与处理Ⅱ中,卵块主要以单层卵和双层卵卵块为主,卵块数量低于对照,且卵块体积较小。从斜纹夜蛾卵的空间格局来看,处理Ⅰ中的卵块主要分布于产卵笼的上部;处理Ⅱ中的卵块分散于产卵笼的中上部;对照中斜纹夜蛾的卵块则分布于产卵笼的各个区域。叉角厉蝽对斜纹夜蛾成虫产卵的干扰胁迫作用明显。     

大栗鳃金龟蒙古亚种成虫交配与生殖习性研究

于2008~2010年在康定对大栗鳃金龟成虫的出土、取食,特别是交配、产卵等方面进行了研究。结果表明:在康定,成虫4月底开始出土,5月中旬至6月下旬为出土高峰期。成虫可进行多次交配,一次交配过程可以分为3个阶段,即交配前、交配中和交配后,平均交配时长为115.6 min±24.4 min(n=10)。交配日节律呈"M"形,分别在中午和晚上有一明显的高峰期。产卵前,成虫在地表以下10 cm左右做一圆形产卵室,将卵产于其中,堆状分布,初产卵粒为浅黄色,随后颜色逐渐变深。每室产卵33.7粒±7.0粒(n=10)。     

海南文昌昌洒荒坡地生境中蜡皮蜥繁殖期家域

为掌握蜡皮蜥(Leiolepis reevesii)繁殖期家域大小、家域内是否存在核域,以及家域与核域的重叠程度,分别于2010年和2011年的3月至5月在海南文昌荒坡地生境中,应用无线电遥测技术对蜡皮蜥家域进行了研究,采用最小凸多边形、固定核域、线家域等方法分析了13只个体(10雄3雌)的家域、核域及其重叠度。雄性最小凸多边形(100%MCP)家域面积为(14 091.6±5 718.0)m2,显著大于雌性的(253.3±106.5)m2(t=4.064,df=11,P=0.002);雄性95%固定核域(FK)和75%FK面积为(10 707.8±2 388.5)m2和(3 282.7±1 022.8)m2,分别显著大于雌性的(379.1±74.1)m2(t=7.262,df=11,P0.001)和(172.1±37.9)m2(t=5.107,df=11,P0.001);雄性线家域为(205.8±52.5)m,显著大于雌性的(25.0±2.0)m(t=5.781,df=11,P=0.034);分析遥测个体位点利用方式,蜡皮蜥个体家域内核域明显,雄性核域为(1 380.5±429.1)m2,显著大于雌性的(80.2±18.5)m2(t=5.088,df=11,P0.001),且雄性核域占100%最小凸多边形家域面积的比例为10.9%±3.9%,显著低于雌性的33.3%±6.1%(t=﹣7.834,df=11,P0.001);雄性100%MCP面积不仅与头体长(SVL)之间线性相关显著(n=10,r=0.815,P=0.004),而且与体重(BM)之间也具有明显的线性相关(n=10,r=0.683,P=0.029);个体之间具有家域和核域重叠,雄性个体之间100%MCP家域重叠指数为0.26±0.17,显著低于雌性的0.66±0.02(t=﹣3.372,df=34,P=0.002),而雄性核域重叠面积占核域比例为2.50%±1.70%、重叠指数为0.02±0.02,雌性比例为0.34%±0.01%、重叠指数为0.01,表明蜡皮蜥具有明显的领域性,且雌性在繁殖季节其领域性明显高于雄性。     

斑块生境中食果鸟类对南方红豆杉种子的取食和传播

生境斑块化对食果鸟类的移动行为产生影响,进而影响其对植物种子的传播格局和效率。南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensis var.mairei)是我国一级保护植物,在南方山区多因人为干扰而呈斑块状分布。2011年,2012年10月底到12月中,以分布于福建梅花山国家级自然保护区红豆杉生态园中南方红豆杉种群为对象,研究斑块生境中鸟类对南方红豆杉种子的取食和传播行为,并评估专性鸟类和泛性鸟类的传播效率。结果发现:南方红豆杉源斑块共吸引22种食果鸟类取食红豆杉种子,并与13种鸟类形成了种子传播关系。不同年间,黑短脚鹎(Hypsipetes leucocephalus)都是植物的主要传播鸟类,而其他鸟类传播者种类具有一定的年间变化。生境斑块化导致专性鸟类黑短脚鹎和泛性鸟类红嘴蓝鹊(Urocissa erythrorhyncha)种子传播效率差异。与红嘴蓝鹊相比,黑短脚鹎飞行的平均距离较短((16.3±11.0)m,Mean±SD,n=125),传播距离相对较近;且它们取食后偏好在源斑块中活动,喜栖息在同种成树、甜楮(Castanopsis eyrei)及其他阔叶树等栖树上。红嘴蓝鹊取食后常在斑块间移动,常停歇在同种成树和毛竹(Phyllostachys heterocycla)上,传播距离相对较远((24.9±20.0)m,Mean±SD,n=95)。空间一致性结果表明,黑短脚鹎移动距离对幼苗更新距离的空间一致性程度高;而红嘴蓝鹊偏好生境与幼苗更新生境一致性程度高。结果表明,斑块生境中植物能与专性鸟类、泛性鸟类之间形成种子传播互惠关系,且种子传播效率受到专性鸟类和泛性鸟类传播距离和传播生境的影响。     

Contrasting movement patterns in two species of chequerspot butterflies, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe, in the same patch network

Abstract.  1. Mark–release–recapture studies were conducted on two species of chequerspot butterfly, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe , in the same habitat patch network in Yanjiaping, a small basin in the Taihang Mountains, north-west of Beijing, China, in 2000.
2. Euphydryas aurinia tended to stay in the habitat patches and to move to neighbouring patches, whereas M. phoebe moved widely among patches in the entire network.
3. The parameters of the virtual migration model showed higher daily emigration propensity in M. phoebe and in E. aurinia males than in E. aurinia females, and significantly greater average daily movement distance in M. phoebe than in E. aurinia .
4. The results are consistent with the previous findings showing genetic structuring among local populations of E. aurinia but not among local populations of M. phoebe .
5. Based on the genetic and ecological results, it was concluded that E. aurinia has a classic metapopulation in the study area, whereas M. phoebe appears to have a source–sink metapopulation.
6. In 2000, when there was an overall increase in the abundance of the two species, the limited mobility of E. aurinia resulted in an increase in the average local population size, whereas the increase in the number of local populations in M. phoebe was due to its high mobility .     

Effect of cultivating croplands and grazing in arid grassland habitats on the conservation of melitaeine butterflies in a mountainous area in Northern China

In the study area (Yanjiaping Village, Hebei Province, China), grazing extensity varies at different loca-tions, small and discontinuous croplands are imbedded in some arid grassland, which are habitats for the melitaeine butterflies, Euphydryas aurinia and Melitaea phoebe. These two species of butterflies coexist in this area, in which grazing and cultivation are the main disturbances. Grazing and cultivation have a reciprocal effect on E. aurinia, rather than M. phoebe. We observed that E. aurinia preferred to occupy patches with moderate grazing and imbedded with small and discontinuous croplands, where E. aurinia also has high population density. The percentage of E. aurinia larval groups in the ribbings was significantly higher than that of M. phoebe, whereas larvae of both species tended to increase in recent years. Our data also showed that the population density and the patch occupancy rate of both E. aurinia and M. phoebe were the highest under moderate grazing. It indicates that cultivation of small and dis-continuous croplands within the patch has a significant effect on the population density of both spe-cies of melitaeine butterflies. Thus, to artificially create or maintain semi-natural habitats, comple-mented by moderate grazing, might be an ecological strategy to conserve melitaeine butterflies effec-tively. Considering the distinct impacts of cultivation and grazing on the population distribution and dynamics of the two different species, human disturbance in the mountainous area might be strategi-cally involved in proposing conservation plans for the target species in the future.     

Dynamic populations in a dynamic landscape: the metapopulation structure of the marsh fritillary butterfly

The marsh fritillary butterfly Euphydryas aurinia is an endangered species in most of northern Europe. We describe the metapopulation structure of E. aurinia in Finland, where the species has declined drastically in the past decades. We found two types of habitat patches suitable for the species: semi-permanent meadows and transient clearcuts in the forest. Patch area was the most significant variable predicting the occurrence of E. aurinia in a habitat patch. The species tended to be found in young rather than old clearcuts, apparently because the vegetation became too high in the latter. We used the incidence function model to simulate the metapopulation dynamics of E. aurinia in its dynamic landscape and discovered that the continued presence of the semi-permanent meadows is essential for the survival of the species in the study area in southeast Finland.     

Habitat utilization by ovipositing females and larvae of the Marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) in a mosaic of meadows and croplands

The butterfly Euphydryas aurinia occurs as a classical metapopulation in Yanjiaping village, Heibei province, China. In the patch network under study there were 38 habitat patches. Most patches were uncultivated, consisting of meadows and fallows, while others had been cultivated, i.e., used as small croplands. In the cultivated patches, the habitat for the butterfly can be classified into two types: meadow type (MTH) and cropland type (CTH). In contrast, the uncultivated habitat patches consists only of MTH. We examined the habitat utilization of ovipositing females and larvae of E. aurinia to assess the effect of mixed land use on the butterfly’s occurrence. More egg clusters and pre-hibernating larval groups were distributed throughout CTH than MTH. This dependence on CTH may be due to the preference of egg-laying females for large-sized host plants, which were mainly concentrated in CTH. Compared to the MTH, the mortality rate in CTH was lower. Therefore, for both eggs and pre-hibernating larvae, the quality of CTH was higher than that of MTH. The conditions in MTH, on the other hand, were important for the development of post-hibernation larvae. A combination of extensive farming and animal husbandry has created a mosaic of meadows and croplands in the habitats studied here, which is typical of rural areas in some developing countries. This study implies that patchy land use typical of traditional agriculture facilitates the long-term persistence of E. aurinia.     

Allometric density responses in butterflies: the response to small and large patches by small and large species

Species are differentially affected by habitat fragmentation as a consequence of differences in mobility, area requirements, use of the matrix, and responses to edges. A quantitative understanding of these differences is essential not only for conservation biology but also for basic ecological theory. Here, we examine density responses by butterflies to patch size and use a quantitative theory on the scaling of population density with patch size to interpret results. Theory suggests that the density distribution of mobile species along a patch size gradient should depend on the scaling of net migration rates, whereas the density distribution of less mobile species should depend more on local growth. Using data from 11 localities in three European countries, we calculated the slope in the relationship between patch size and population density. These slopes were evaluated in relation to butterfly traits and matrix composition. As estimates of butterfly mobility we used both wing span and expert mobility rankings. The slope of the density–area relationship changed as predicted with wing span and the association of species to grasslands. Large and highly mobile species had a negative slope, similarly for grassland specialists and generalist species, and the slope matched quantitative predictions based on the scaling of net migration rates. Small and less mobile grassland specialists had a slope that was less negative than the slope of large and mobile grassland specialists, whereas the slope did not change with size for generalist species. These analyses suggest that the variability in response among butterfly species to patch size could be explained by accounting for body size/mobility and habitat associations among species. A caveat is that edge effects are not explicitly included in the model analysis, and future research should aim to combine area and edge effects in a common theoretical framework.     

Thyme and isolation for the Sinai baton blue butterfly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudophilotes sinaicus</Emphasis>)

The distribution of the narrowly endemic butterfly Pseudophilotes sinaicus (Lycaenidae) was studied. Potential habitat within its range was first located and then the quality of that habitat assessed. Degree of shelter, diversity of plant species, and resource area of an individual food plant (Thymus decussatus) all affected habitat quality and together were used to develop an index of habitat suitability applicable to each site. The butterfly's distribution was then studied within the identified network of suitable habitat patches: isolated patches with a small resource area were least likely to contain butterflies. Population size in a patch (as opposed merely to patch occupancy) was affected by resource area and the quality of habitat within that patch. Metapopulation processes and variation in habitat quality therefore appear to combine to describe the distribution of patches occupied by P. sinaicus and their population sizes. This finding provides insights into some of the processes operating on an endemic species throughout its geographical range and has important implications for the conservation of this rare butterfly.     

The role of niche breadth, resource availability and range position on the life history of butterflies

We analysed the relationship between three life history characteristics (mobility, length of flight period and body size) and niche breadth (larval host plant specificity and adult habitat breadth), resource availability (distribution and abundance of host plants) and range position (distance between the northernmost distribution record and southernmost point of Finland) of the butterfly fauna of Finland. The data is based on literature and questionnaires. Often in across species studies phylogeny may create spurious relationships between life-history and ecological variables. We took the phylogenetic relatedness of butterfly species into account by analysing the data with phylogenetically independent contrasts (CAIC method). Butterfly mobility was positively related to the niche breadth, resource availability and range position. The length of the flight period was negatively related to the range position, indicating that the species at the northern edge of their distribution range have shorter flight period than species which are further way from the range edge. After controlling for the phylogenetic relatedness we found no significant correlations between body size and niche breadth, resource availability or range position. We suggest that the relationship between the length of the flight period and range position may arise as a consequence of lower hatching asynchrony in edge species as a result of lower environmental variance in larval growth conditions. Our results on the mobility suggest that there is selection pressure towards lower migration rate in species that have restricted niche breadth, low resource availability and in species that are on the northern edge of their geographical distribution range. In such species, selection against mobile individuals is likely to result from the decreased probability of finding another habitat patch suitable for egg laying.     

How does landscape context contribute to effects of habitat fragmentation on diversity and population density of butterflies?

Aim Studies on habitat fragmentation of insect communities mostly ignore the impact of the surrounding landscape matrix and treat all species equally. In our study, on habitat fragmentation and the importance of landscape context, we expected that habitat specialists are more affected by area and isolation, and habitat generalists more by landscape context. Location and methods The study was conducted in the vicinity of the city of Göttingen in Germany in the year 2000. We analysed butterfly communities by transect counts on thirty‐two calcareous grasslands differing in size (0.03–5.14 ha), isolation index (2100–86,000/edge‐to‐edge distance 55–1894 m), and landscape diversity (Shannon–Wiener: 0.09–1.56), which is correlated to percentage grassland in the landscape. Results A total of 15,185 butterfly specimens belonging to fifty‐four species are recorded. In multiple regression analysis, the number of habitat specialist (n = 20) and habitat generalist (n = 34) butterfly species increased with habitat area, but z‐values (slopes) of the species–area relationships for specialists (z = 0.399) were significantly steeper compared with generalists (z = 0.096). Generalists, but not specialists, showed a marginally significant increase with landscape diversity. Effects of landscape diversity were scale‐dependent and significant only at the smallest scale (landscape context within a 250 m radius around the habitat). Habitat isolation was not related to specialist and generalist species numbers. In multiple regression analysis the density of specialists increased significantly with habitat area, whereas generalist density increased only marginally. Habitat isolation and landscape diversity did not show any effects. Main conclusions Habitat area was the most important predictor of butterfly community structure and influenced habitat specialists more than habitat generalists. In contrast to our expectations, habitat isolation had no effect as most butterflies could cope with the degree of isolation in our study region. Landscape diversity appeared to be important for generalist butterflies only.